Head to head
Flower Hat Jelly vs Crystal Jellyfish
Flower Hat Jelly
VS Crystal Jellyfish
Both are small, visually memorable jellyfish, but they earned their reputations in very different ways.
| Flower Hat Jelly | Crystal Jellyfish | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Olindias formosus | Aequorea victoria |
| Distinguishing feature | Striped, petal-curling tentacles | Produces green fluorescent protein |
| Sting | Painful welts in humans | Not documented as dangerous to humans |
| Light production | Faint fluorescence under ultraviolet light | Produces its own light-emitting protein and GFP |
| Scientific significance | A popular aquarium and photography subject | A Nobel Prize-linked discovery |
| Range | Pacific coastal waters off Japan and South America | North Pacific coastal waters |
| Conservation status | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
| Habitat | Ocean, coastal | Ocean, coastal |
Flower Hat Jelly vs Crystal Jellyfish: common questions
Which one is linked to a Nobel Prize?
The crystal jellyfish is linked to a Nobel Prize, since its production of green fluorescent protein led to a Nobel Prize in Chemistry recognising the molecule's impact on modern scientific research.
Which one has a painful sting for humans?
The flower hat jelly delivers a sting capable of causing painful welts in humans, while the crystal jellyfish is not documented as posing any comparable sting risk to people.
Do both jellyfish glow?
Both produce some form of light-related effect, but the flower hat jelly only fluoresces faintly under ultraviolet light, while the crystal jellyfish produces its own light-emitting protein alongside the widely used green fluorescent protein.